The CSG arena: a critical review of unconventional gas developments and best-practice health impact assessment in Queensland, Australia

Figures & data

Figure 1. Gothenburg HIA framework.

(Source: European Centre for Health Policy (27)).

Figure 2. Merseyside guidelines (HIA stages).

(Source: Scott-Samuel, Birley (28)).

Figure 3. ICMM framework.

Figure 4. Determinants of health and well-being (FPH, UK).

Table 1. Methodology (components) of Queensland Health report compared with the ICCM Framework.

Reports analysed	Methods	Results and interpretations
Darling Downs Public Health Unit (DDPHU) report	1. Reports of health providers in the region in regard to clinical presentations of complaints of adverse reactions to CSG	Prevalence of complaints: 3.7% (calculated by comparing complaints: 34 headaches, 18 sore itchy eyes, 14 nosebleeds with total population of Wieambilla area of 1257
	2. Self-report by patients	Complaints are non-specific and have multiple causes
	3. Follow-up with patients	Lack of finding on clinical examination
	4. Mapping of households reporting symptoms relative to location of CSG wells	Low prevalence of reported symptoms
	5. Liaison with mining companies with regard to reports of health complaints	No similar patterns of symptoms reported amongst mines regarding mine employees
	Sample size: N = 56	Possibility of other environmental exposures
		Lack of information on hazard at levels that may cause health problems
The report of a medical doctor contracted by Medibank Health Solutions Pty Ltd	Clinical examination	Complaints similar to earlier DDPHU reports; did not find evidence of nosebleeds, and could not attribute reasons for other complaints; no relationship between CSG activities and health complaints
	Sample size n = 23
Air monitoring		Concentrations of analytes were too low to be associated with CSG activities
Water monitoring		No significant levels of toxins found in either dam or roof-harvested rainwater
Soil monitoring		No significant levels of toxins found in soil analysed
Noise monitoring		Possible annoyance due to low frequency noise attributed to a CSG processing facility.
Fugitive gas emissions (methane, carbon dioxide and radon)		All levels below scientifically accepted values; no relationship with health complaints